Weekly Eats: Sugar and Spice and a Linkup

Just as I love contrast when it comes to style, I'm also a fan of contrasting flavors. When a spicy dish is balanced with a hint of sweetness (or vice versa), I'm in flavor heaven. This week's meals all had a little bit of sweet and a little bit (or more) of spice.

Clockwise from top right:
1. Jalapeno Popper Chicken Soup with Bacon from Cinnamon-Spice and Everything Nice. My friends, if you love yourselves, if you love the ones you cook for, I implore you, make this soup! It was divine; warm, comforting, spicy, creamy...downright indulgent. The soup base starts similarly to a chicken tortilla soup: onions, peppers (I cut back a little and only used 2 jalapenos), chicken, tomatoes, corn. However, there are a few twists: the addition of cannellini beans, which was unexpected yet delicious, sour cream (drooling yet?), and bacon and cheese for topping. I want to make this again tomorrow.
2. Roasted Maple Glazed Pork Tenderloin from Mel's Kitchen Cafe and Spicy Roasted Squash with Feta and Herbs from How Sweet it is. The main reason I'm sharing this not-cute dinner with you is the squash. The pork had good flavor, but it was a mess to make (molasses, I'm looking at you) and it just wasn't our favorite pork tenderloin recipe ever. (And we're becoming quite the pork tenderloin connoisseurs around here!) But can I tell you about this squash? I've never had acorn squash before, but it was delightful. I loved the combination of the spicy-sweet squash (next time I'd use more chili sauce) with the cool, fresh feta cheese. Even though I left it in the oven too long and neither one of us liked the skin, Aaron and I were both pleasantly surprised by how much we liked this side dish.
3. Korean Beef and Rice from Mel's Kitchen Cafe. Mel, you had me at "simple, 20 minute meal". This really was quick and easy, and it had great flavor--a little sweet, a little salty, a little spicy. I used ground turkey instead of ground beef, and I added some roasted broccoli (tossed in sesame seeds, sesame oil, and soy sauce) on top of mine. Yum!
An InLinkz Link-up


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